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South Australian Community Achievement Awards 2026: Nominations Close 16 November

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Nominations for South Australia's 2026 Community Achievement Awards close on 16 November 2026. Check eligibility, prepare your evidence and understand the publicity rules before entering.

Last checked against official sources: 17 October 2026

* Dates and timings are subject to change, please check directly with the awards organisers.

Nominations for the 2026 South Australian Community Achievement Awards close on Monday 16 November 2026. Entry is free, and you have a month to show what your contribution has changed for people in South Australia.

This reminder is for the South Australian programme, not the other state programmes. Check the right state's page before you start.

Check Your Eligibility First

The conditions say nominees must have lived in South Australia for at least two years, or the nominated activity must be specific to South Australia. Eligibility also depends on the category: businesses, groups, organisations and individuals may qualify.

You can enter a maximum of two different categories, with a separate application for each nomination. Previous winners cannot nominate in a category they have already won.

Choose the category that fits your evidence, not the one with the most appealing title. Running in the right race starts with reading the category guidelines.

Make the Impact Visible

The organiser asks you to address every relevant category guideline and clearly demonstrate the nominee's achievements. There is a limit of 700 words per question, with up to 10 attachments and a 3MB limit per attachment. The nomination tips also ask for at least one headshot.

Don't fill those words with a list of activities. Explain the problem, what you did and what improved. Combine numbers with a specific example or testimonial: how many people benefited, what changed for them and how you know.

Supporting documents should be recent, clear and relevant. Make their purpose obvious in your answers rather than expecting judges to work it out.

Agree What Can Be Shared

The conditions allow the Awards office to use nomination information, photographs and supporting material for promotion. Nominees also agree to associated media publicity.

Before uploading a testimonial, photograph or business result, check that you have permission to share it on that basis. A strong entry should not create a confidentiality problem.

Dates to Keep in Your Diary

  • Nominations close: Monday 16 November 2026, according to the South Australian edition page.
  • Judging: Wednesday 9 December 2026.
  • Awards Gala Presentation: Saturday 20 February 2027.

The conditions page calls the deadline “Wednesday 16 November 2026”, while the edition page says Monday. We follow the edition page: both give 16 November 2026, which falls on a Monday. Confirm the submission timing directly with the organisers; neither page specifies a closing time.

Finalists should endeavour to attend the gala dinner, but inability to attend does not disqualify an entry.

Use the Next Month Well

Choose your category now, gather evidence and permissions next, then leave time for someone outside the project to review your answers. Submit before the published deadline rather than relying on a last-minute upload.

For help turning evidence into a clear story, read Crafting Winning Awards Entries.

Sources